Rugby: Mutu Ngarimu back with Taradale

BIG CHALENGE: Former Magpies captain Mutu Ngarimu has returned home to the Bay to take on a co-coaching role with Taradale. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

When it comes to hunting Maddison Trophy winner's medals few have had more success than former Hawke's Bay Magpies captain Mutu Ngarimu.

So it was no surprise when Taradale Rugby and Sports club captain Stu Cruden, himself a multiple winner of the most sought after silverware in Hawke's Bay's premier club rugby comp as a coach, heard 1997 Maori All Black Ngarimu was back in the province he had no hesitation in offering him a co-coaching role alongside another former Magpies captain, Jason Shoemark, with the Mighty Maroons.

As a player former loosie Ngarimu, 42, tasted Maddison Trophy glory with Taradale in 1997, '98, 2003, '06 and '07. As a co-coach with Taradale he helped guide the Tareha Reserve-based club to a Nash Cup-Maddison Trophy double in 2009.

"I came back to the Bay for a new job and it's good to be back at the old club. We'll take things one year at a time on the coaching front," said Ngarimu, who has taken up a final assembly supervisor's role with Tumu Timbers.

The veteran of 73 first-class games for the Magpies from 1997-2006, Ngarimu, left the Bay in 2011 to play for his home province of East Coast. From 2013 to 2016 he coached Poverty Bay, another of his former provinces.

Last year and in 2015 he also had a role as assistant coach with the New Zealand Heartland XV. By returning to the Bay he has forfeited the opportunity to continue with this role as coaching staff members are appointed from Heartland provinces.

When quizzed if he can help Shoemark go one place better than last year's runner-up spot in the Maddison Trophy comp Ngarimu replied: "Taradale did remarkably well to end up where they did last year. This year is going to be a big challenge and I think we will be building for the future and putting strong systems in place for later on. From what I hear we've lost a few key players so we will have a lot of work to do."

A father of four and always a role model on and off the field, Ngarimu, said helping to create an environment which produced positive role models would be a priority for him.

"It's important our players conduct themselves well in the community. I like them to be good brothers and good fathers and it's important they enjoy their rugby. Whether you are a coach, player or administrator you have to enjoy it."Obviously if the opportunity to help with the coaching of the Magpies came along it would be awesome. But at the moment I want to try and add value to Taradale and I'm excited to be back," he added.

Long-serving Taradale reserve grade coach Karl Bidlake will co-coach the team with former Magpie Peter Davis. Another stalwart of the Tareha Reserve-based club, Harvey Gardner, will coach the senior thirds and Paul Wise and Spencer Bethell are back for another season in charge of the colts.

All of the Bay's premier clubs have appointed their coaching combos for the season.

Maddison Trophy and Nash Cup holders Napier Old Boys Marist will again have Craig Gowler at the helm and he will be assisted by former Taradale head coach Steve Bennett.

Pirate head coach Andy Lord has retired and has been replaced by Bay age group team mentor Pouri Rakete-Stones who will have Sam Green as his assistant. Former Magpie Murdoch Paewai will be back in charge at Havelock North.

At Hastings Rugby and Sports, Bevan Lynch will be assisted by fellow former Magpies Tivaini Fomai and Heyden Lafaele. Blair Cross will again be head coach at Clive as will former Magpie Exham Wichman at Central.

After 30 years of coaching at various clubs around the Bay and overseas Adam McDonald has stepped down from the head coach role at Tamatea and has been replaced by club stalwart Matt Marsh. Steve Lloyd and Steve Woods will again co-coach Napier Tech and Len Huia has been retained as the MAC head coach.